Literary Associate

Griffin’s Literary Associate is an early-career opportunity for a playwright to develop hands-on dramaturgical and literary skills.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Literary Associate (full time)

Reporting to: Artistic Director

Base Salary Range: $65,000 – $75,000 plus superannuation

WHO WE ARE

Griffin Theatre Company is Australia’s only theatre company solely dedicated to developing and staging Australian plays. Founded in 1979, we are one of the great engine rooms of Australian theatre. We have shaped and platformed the narratives that help us know who we are as a nation, where we’ve been and who we want to become.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Griffin’s Literary Associate is an early-career opportunity for a playwright to develop hands-on dramaturgical and literary skills.

Reporting to the Artistic Director, the Literary Associate is the key contact and first port of call for playwrights and theatre-makers seeking to create work with Griffin, and assists in supporting the creative resourcing, delivery and workflow management of works in development, under commission and in production with the company. They are member of the Artistic & Programming team, which is responsible for programming Griffin’s annual season of works.

The Literary Associate plays a key role in fostering a culture of dramaturgy within Griffin, with a particular focus on inclusive practice and upholding values of diversity, equity, and accessibility. They manage most of the open-call submissions processes at Griffin – including Play Submissions, the Griffin Award, and Griffin Lookout – and complete script assessments and reports as part of these programs.

On occasion and under the leadership of the Artistic Director, the Literary Associate will provide dramaturgical support to works in development and/or with resident artists.

KEY OBJECTIVES

• Act as a primary point of contact for playwrights and theatre-makers  seeking to create work with the company.
• Undertake the wide reading and assessment of scripts and report regularly to the Artistic & Programming team with a focus on continuing to diversify the pool of playwrights that Griffin considers for commission, development, and production (diversity includes but is not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, disability, citizenship status, and neurodiversity).
• Observe and provide support to the script development process of works by emerging, mid-career, and senior playwrights at Griffin (commissions, script workshops, Griffin Studio works) including minute-taking in meetings, collaboration in artistic de-briefing, support for readings and development activities, as well as offering direct feedback to artists under the guidance of the Artistic Director.
• Assist the Artistic Director and Associate Artistic Director in the collation and delivery of written notes and feedback documents for playwrights.
• Lead in the development and implementation of dramaturgical processes across at Griffin, in collaboration with the rest of the Artistic & Programming team.
• Lead on the planning and coordination of the Griffin Award, Griffin’s national playwriting award.
• Manage the scheduling and support for Griffin’s slate of works in development, including all commission and delivery requirements with support from the Producing department.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Minimum three years’ professional experience (or a body of professional credits) in dramaturgy, playwriting, new work development, or the teaching of scriptwriting for stage and/or screen.
• Proven high-level skill in communication, scheduling / workflow management, and relationship-management with creative artists and arts workers.
• Demonstrated understanding and empathy of creative processes and ability to work with creatives in realising artistic vision
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex and/or high-stakes projects involving multiple deadlines, budgets and stakeholder relationships, and an ability to prioritise and to remain calm under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a part of a team
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong computer skills for database use and maintenance, email, Microsoft Office suite

TO APPLY

Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the full position description available at griffintheatre.com.au 

Applicants should submit the following:

• A written application (no more than 3 pages) or video (no more than 5 minutes) addressing the Selection Criteria
• A current CV and contact details of 3 referees.

Applications should be emailed with LITERARY ASSOCIATE in the subject line by midnight on Sunday 27 July 2025 to jobs@griffintheatre.com.au. 

If you would like to discuss the position in more detail, please contact Declan Greene, Artistic Director by email on declan@griffintheatre.com.au